ArticlePloS one2023
Effects of specialist care lower limb orthoses on personal goal attainment and walking ability in adults with neuromuscular disorders.
Article in PloS one, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT06444672 (Effects of a Home-Based Rehabilitation on Anthropometric Measures, Sensory-Motor Functions and Independence After Spinal Cord Injury), which is not on this map. Cited by 6 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Effects of a Home-Based Rehabilitation on Anthropometric Measures, Sensory-Motor Functions and Independence After Spinal Cord Injury
Who cites it
6 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 6 citations in OpenAlex.
- The assistive gait devices and their implementation in activities of daily living for patients with neuromuscular disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Journal of neuromuscular diseases · 2026Pooled it
- Ankle-foot orthoses for improving walking in adults with calf muscle weakness due to neuromuscular disorders.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2025Pooled it
- Efficacy of Combined Aerobic Exercise and Coaching on Physical Fitness in People With Neuromuscular Diseases: A Randomized Clinical Trial.Neurology · 2025Trial
- Specialized orthotic care to improve functioning in adults with neuromuscular disorders: results of an open-label blinded end-point randomized controlled trial.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicine · 2025Trial
- Rehabilitation in Neuromuscular Diseases: Best Turkish Practice Recommendations by Multidisciplinary Experts.Acta neurologica Belgica · 2026Review
- Fractures in Hereditary Neuromuscular Disorders: Frequency, Risk Factors, and Implications.European journal of neurology · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
5 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundLower limb orthoses intend to improve walking in adults with neuromuscular disorders (NMD). Yet, reported group effects of lower limb orthoses on treatment outcomes have generally been small and heterogeneous. We propose that guideline-based orthotic care within a multidisciplinary expert setting may improve treatment outcomes.
aimTo examine the effectiveness of specialist care orthoses compared to usual care orthoses on personal goal attainment and walking ability.
designCohort study. POPULATION: Adults with NMD who experienced walking problems due to calf and/or quadriceps muscle weakness and were provided with a specialist care lower limb orthosis between October 2011 and January 2021.
methodsThree months after provision, the specialist care orthosis was compared to the usual care orthosis worn at baseline in terms of personal goal attainment (Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS)), comfortable walking speed (m/s), net energy cost (J/kg/m) (both assessed during a 6-minute walk test), perceived walking ability and satisfaction.
resultsSixty-four adults with NMD were eligible for analysis. The specialist care orthoses comprised 19 dorsiflexion-restricting ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs), 22 stance-control knee-ankle-foot orthoses (KAFOs) and 23 locked KAFOs. Overall, 61% of subjects showed a clinically relevant improvement in GAS score. Perceived safety, stability, intensity, fear of falling and satisfaction while walking all improved (p≤0.002), and subjects were satisfied with their specialist care orthosis and the services provided. Although no effects on walking speed or net energy cost were found in combined orthosis groups, specialist care AFOs significantly reduced net energy cost (by 9.5%) compared to usual care orthoses (from mean (SD) 3.81 (0.97) to 3.45 (0.80) J/kg/m, p = 0.004).
conclusionGuideline-based orthotic care within a multidisciplinary expertise setting could improve treatment outcomes in adults with NMD compared to usual orthotic care by improvements in goal attainment and walking ability. A randomized controlled trial is now warranted to confirm these results.
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